Czech the Technique

Merseyside Police revealed a 26 year old man named Steven Gerrard was reported missing at around 5.15pm yesterday evening. Around 44,000 witnesses have corroborated that he was last seen perched snugly in Gilberto Silva's top pocket. Police are questioning Theo Walcott in connection with the incident, who is thought to be to blame for the whole sorry affair.

Can this fallacy stop yet? An Arsenal midfield shorn of its composer outshone Gerrard consummately. Perhaps when we come back on Tuesday with the kiddywinks Mr. Gerrard will be able to have an effect on a game involving quality opponents. In all solemnity I really had a good feeling about yesterday, in fact I remarked to my mates on the journey that I had the same gut feeling I had on the way up to Old Trafford in September.

But before I commence with my report I would like to express my full and heartfelt backing for the Liverpool Truth campaign. Mr. McKenzie owes the city of Liverpool a full and frank apology, not to mention a large donation to the Hillsbrough fund. I have always felt newspapers to be untrustworthy, slimy propaganda pamphlets. But McKenzie's affront to the gravestones of 96 people with the aim of flogging a few more copies of his publication (whose name I will not honour) with a tissue of lies is a disgrace. Liverpool's six minute card protest (photos will be provided in a separate article) and the 'Justice For The 96' chants bought mutual applause from all sides of the ground. May justice be administered soon, its already been seventeen years too long.

Onto the game and I felt Liverpool, spurred on by a rumbustuous crowd, dominated the opening exchanges. Kuyt looked as kinetic as ever and Crouch's height (not his skill mind) appeared to create panic in the back four and Luis Garcia and Alonso looked ravenous. But the important factor was that we held our nerve and did not make any mistakes at the back. This is something we have persistently failed to do this season. In prohibiting Liverpool from any strikes on goal, we were allowed to grow into the game and the effect on the younger players was palpable. Senderos became dogged and erstwhile, covering his defenders and throwing his body at anything that dare lay siege on the virginity of our goal. Eboue and Clichy got a grip on the game (though marking Pennant is a bit like sitting on a beanbag, you know its not going anywhere). In turn, Gilberto began to pull the strings and prevent Gerrard's surging runs, forcing him further and further back. I agree fully with Wingston75 that Flamini was awesome, his usual industry was there, but he did not allow himself to be outmuscled, getting vital tackles in and his display was a picture of gritty resolve.

As well as resolute defending, the other key factor was our clinical finishing and Little Mozart exemplified this better than most. Nobody likes to pontificate on patterns of play and the dynamics of a game more than myself, but ultimately its about scoring goals and not conceding them. My favourite footballing quote ever emanated from the great Brian Clough, 'football is a simple game made complicated by idiots.' Tommy Gunn's first effort was a precise a dipping shot from Hleb's pullback. I was at the other end of the ground, but even with the shackles of perspective, I felt Dudek was far too far off his line. The Anfield Road End errupted in pandemonium. The Gunners grew in confidence and a second arrived right on half time, Rosicky cut in from the left and hit a low shot past Dudek, who was again slow to get to the ground. The 5,000 strong Gooner contingent again writhed ecstatically and as the half time whistle blew, the concourse was full of beer and song (again, photos in another article).

The second half was predictable, Liverpool went all out, hoofing the ball to Crouch and Kuyt at every opportunity and pressing the Gunners way back into their own half. But led by Swiss Tony, Arsenal repelled the Reds attacks. When Benitez threw Fabio Aurelio on we knew that we would be bombarded with crosses given the Brazilian's cute left foot. Sure enough, the goal arrived as Dirk Kuyt flicked in a corner from close range. Delight turned to anxiety in the Anfield Road End as the expected onslaught materialised. But for all Liverpool's huff and puff, there was no end product. Looking at the comments on other threads I find it unbelievable that people think we were lucky. During the second half Liverpool registered two shots on target (the second of which arrived in injury time). But it was left to the skipper to step up to the plate to destroy Liverpool's hopes.

Henry flicked the ball around Carragher and initially I was amazed that Carragher had outpaced him (in retrospect, match fitness was more than likely the culprit). But Henry would not give it up, with the clock running down Carragher sought to retain the ball but Henry, with rottweiler tenacity, robbed him and cut in to beat Dudek. I have been critical of Thierry's scoring record in these sorts of games and I hope that this marks a watershed. I think that two months ago Henry would have given up the chase. He looked fatigued, insipid and unmotivated. I believe this enforced rest has given him the time to alleviate his aches and pains, while the form of van Persie and Adebayor has filled him with the requisite motivation to compete for our unwavering affection once again. Please Thierry, come May I want to submit a grovelling retraction of my criticisms.

A few impressions as a spectator. Firstly, this is the kind of Arsenal performance I love. The world and his pet Spud knows we are capable of sublime football, heaven born radiance and intricate passing. But I love it when the Arsenal go away, dig into the trenches and prosper against all the odds. This match reminded me of the Quarter Final replay at Stamford Bridge nearly four years ago. When we actually only registered two shots on target (one of our three goals was a delightful John Terry effort), but by that token Chelsea only had one. In fact, the similarities are uncanny, 2-0 up at half time, pegged back to two one, before suring the result as the result of a goalkeeping error (Lauren on that occasion). The radio phone in on the way home, hosted by Liverpool fan Alan Green, was full of how disgusting our antics were, particularly Eboue. The listeners and presenters of Radio Five Live were not fooled by the fact he went off injured, no, because he dived appallingly. Apparently, according to some Scousers, who all pointed out they were not bad losers, we were overly aggressive and resorted to strong arm tactics and diving!!!! So seven days previous at Bramall Lane, Chris Morgan's Tyson impression was stern British grit and Jagielka had called us babies. Now all of a sudden we are thugs!!! Alan Green, congratulations, you have earned the rank ****! In the words of a Norwegian commentator, your boys took one hell of a beating. DEAL WITH IT.

Of course Mr. Green neglected to mention Pennant's stamp on Clichy, the fact that it was Xabi Alonso who had been booked for diving and the that Luis Garcia spent so much time on his arse I thought he was waiting for a gimp mask and a pair of stilettos! Pennant earned himself further infamy by kissing his Liverpool badge in front of the Arsenal fans as he journeyed to take a corner. An act befitting of the lack of class this individual holds. The Arsenal fans responded with typical vigour, 'Ashley's boyfriend' and 'Car Keys to Pennant' they remarked with customary irony fastened to their tongues. But the best chant came minutes into the game. You all know I am loathe to have a pop at national hero and Walcott victim Steven Gerrard MBE (!!!), but in the opening minutes he charged through the centre, Kuyt in acres to his right, Crouch in acres to his left, predictably he unleashed a tame shot. The chant from the Arsenal fans, 'Where were you in Germany?' It seems the Gooners are aware of his fraudulent legend, will the rest of the world wake up to it I wonder? LD.

UPDATE... THOSE OF YOU WISHING TO SEE PHOTOS I TOOK YESTERDAY (INCLUDING ONE OF MY UGLY MUG), CLICK ON THE FORUM AND GO TO ALBUMS AND HAVE A GANDER AT THE LITTLE DUTCH FOLDER. ENJOY.

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PUREGOLD - Youve got no chance of winning that game, your team are not the once mighty ARS*nal any longer....there an inconsistent team thats gonna sink even further from the top....you boys need cover in a variety of positions...and you have NO money lol.....they will bottle it at Anfield......dream on tho, you might finish fourth again....your so great these days, and yeah you'll probably finish above us but the bottom line is were improving, your not .......and b4 the rest of you goons jump on the bandwagon....tell this offensive weirdo to stop coming on our site....i think he wants to be a yid really.......COYS
The truth
The thoughts of a spuds fan yesterday, thought it beared repeating. Funny because that doesn't look like the truth to me!!!

He said that Eboue completely defamed Arsenal's performance and took all the gloss off of it. I see what he means, how dare he get an injury in front of the kop, off with his head! That bloke is an idiot, I listened to him on the way back from Sheffield and he was full of what pansies we were and how great Morgan was. Idiot.

that's disappointing, LD - he's always quite a fair minded guy. Mind you Eboue made me feel embarrassed yesterday, going down the way he did after the foul. He may well have been genuinely injured, but given his recent history, i can't help but take what he did with a pinch of salt, and i hate it when players do that, whether it be another team's or one of our own.
by all accounts, anyone defending morgan is a right prannett - he threw a punch, he deserved a red. I'm glad the FA had the balls to give the suspension. If it had been RVP it woudl have been splashed across the media all week, def sky would have turned it into a witch hunt, but because it was against us, it's part of the british game, sky are such *********s...
»»Arsene Knows««

"Merseyside Police revealed a 26 year old man named Steven Gerrard was reported missing at around 5.15pm yesterday evening. Around 44,000 witnesses have corroborated that he was last seen perched snugly in Gilberto Silva's top pocket. Police are questioning Theo Walcott in connection with the incident, who is thought to be to blame for the whole sorry affair."
hahaha classic mate, great article, a well deserved victory for us, 3 sensational goals, it takes character to go to anfeild, especially during that protests and still serve up a toasting LOL, liverpool had most possesion and did ***** all with it, onwards and upwards we go !!!

guys i dun remember if i've said this joke before on our site, i gues maybe i have, but i'd like to say it again...What would be Saddam Hussain's last wish before being shot dead?........give me Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard from 12 yards..........

but coming back to the game, it was a great performance by the lads, great win for the team and for le boss, his young team is finally gelling well together, and this year is going to be great for us. and one more thing, after watching King Kolo in the last few games, dun you guys think he needs a bit of rest, and maybe we shud play gallas and senderos together once billy is back. i'm sure a little break will benefit King Kolo too..

Watching the game at the home of Liverpool Canada's supporters club, the guy who runs that show congratulated me for the Gunners win, but said he didn't see much of Henry and thinks he hasn't done much this season. I didn't wanna get into a big debate over it so I just disagreed, but it didn't make much sense to me. First off, Henry does have what, 8, 9 goals this season right? That's despite playing at half speed and missing a month. Second of all, why can't people see that Henry's role on the club is vastly different to what it was a couple seasons ago. Before he was a roaming midfielder/striker in the 4-4-2, playing from the midfield line in and drifting out wide to cause all sorts of havoc. Now he's (for the most part) a lone striker in a 4-5-1, meaning he's gotta wait for the ball to get to him. Well since Liverpool had most of the possession, it's kinda hard for Henry to do a lot with air isn't it? Third, where the hell was Gerrard last night? At least Henry made a tangible contribution with a stellar solo effort and goal of the week candidate. Stevie G wasn't even taking the corners for crying out loud. Hell, not sure he's done much of anything this season...he only scored his first goal of the season in late November/early December. Not that I wanna slag Gerrard cause I do like the guy, but it's amusing hearing fans of other teams slag off Henry while they defend players who you could argue bottle it in big games or are mostly overrated.

Little Dutch, Congratulations on the win, Arsenal played well and deserved their win. I thought the following comments a bit harsh, "Perhaps when we come back on Tuesday with the kiddywinks Mr. Gerrard will be able to have an effect on a game involving quality opponents", what about AC Milan, aren't they quality opponents? Thank you for your comments on the Truth campaign. Good luck the rest of the way.

You will remember against A.C Milan that Didi Hamann came on at half time because Gerrard could not cope with Kaka and Gattuso. H escored but he did not play well. Same with the Cup Final when Reo Coker was awarded man of the match. Still, good luck with the rest of the season.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO UPLOAD MY PHOTOS INTO AN ARTICLE BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED, I'LL LOOK INTO THE IMAGESHACK THING TOMORROW, BUT IN THE MEANTIME MY PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY CAN BE SEEN BY GOING TO THE FORUM, CLICKING ON ALBUMS AND HAVING A GANDER AT LITTLE DUTCH'S FOLDER. ENJOY.

Little Dutch, Gerrard was man of the match in the FA Final, after scoring two goals and assisting on another who else would it be. It's not called the Gerrard final for nothing. Hamann did shore up the midfield in the second half but it was Gerrard who scored the first goal, and it was he who got the penalty for the third goal. He was our best player in the CL final.

I disagree, I think Carragher and Alonso were much better in that game. Its called the Gerrard Cup Final because Gerrard is friends with a number of journalists who create this hype around him (take a look at who ghost wrote his autobiography). Before Gerrard scored his wonder goal in injury time, the man of the match award had been given to Reo Coker. On the whole, in both games his performances were poor to average. As they are evry time Liverpool play at the Bridge, Old Trafford and Highbury. Alonso is a much better player.

Little Dutch, before his last minute wonder goal, Gerrard already scored one goal, and set up another. How can you say that he was poor to average? Gerrard assisted on goals at Old Trafford, the Bridge, and Highbury, and scored at home against all three clubs. granted, he doesn't dominate a lot of the games against the other big clubs, but he's certainly hasn't been poor against them in every game.

I think if he is as good as everyone says he is, he can dominate those games on a regular basis. The likes of Vieira, Keane, Scholes and even Fabregas have been able to do this. Gerrard is not a bad player by any means, its just he has a very cynically assembled PR machine behind him that generates this hype. For my money Alonso is a superior player and so are the aforementioned midfielders.

I cannot actually access the link. But with all due respect (and I mean that sincerely), I am not interested in the opinions of newspapers. Gerrard is friends with the sports editor of the Times and so I do not think they are at all objective. I watch the guy in these sorts of games enough to formulate my own opinion, and that is that he is not good enough to dominate big opponents, therefore he is not world class as Scholes, Keane, Vieira, Cesc are.

This is what the article says."IN ANOTHER life, Thierry Henry might well have worn a different red shirt. “A kid asked me on Wednesday if I would have liked to play for another team,” the Arsenal and France striker said yesterday. “Straight away I said Liverpool.
“First of all, I would have loved to play with Steven Gerrard and second I like the club and their fans. There’s something about Anfield that you can’t explain.
“I love it when you step out of the dressing-room and you see the Kop, the scarves, and [hear people] singing You’ll Never Walk Alone. Just that, that would do it for me."

I respect Thierry'sopinion and what he said about Anfield and your fans, however, he does not discuss Gerrad in depth. Players are privy to the same media saturation we are and it is hard for most people to escape what they are spoon fed. This is why people recycle the fallacies about Newcastle fans being so great (they're not) and why Gerrard and Lampard are world class. I think if you analyse his performances agaimst the bigger sides, you said it yourslef, he does not dominate. I have seen Keane, Vieira, Scholes and Cesc with his tender years, do this with regularity. Gerrard is talked about as unsurpassed, world class and the simple truth is that he is some way short. That's not to say he is a bad player. Alonso is a better player, but does not have the same PR savvy, therefore is not talked about in the same vein.

Like I said John, take a look at the ghost writers of his autobiography (why do you think a book blaming a 17 year old for a bad World Cup was so well received?). They all have an occupational similarity. NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS!

Little Dutch, in the only two full seasons that Gerrard and Alonso played together Gerrard out-scored and out-assisted Alonso by a big margin, granted that they don't play in the same position but still. Alonso is a very good player but he's not in Gerrard's class.

Gerrard didn't blame Theo on a bad world cup. He thought that a 17 year old kid shouldn't have been taking to Germany unless he was a Messi, especially when England's first choice strikers were either injured or coming off injury. He blamed Sven, not Theo.

He blamed Theo. Gerrard was pretty harsh on Walcott and after hearing that, John Terry had my vote for England Captain. I'd been one for Stevie G all the way but after I realised he was blaming a 17 year old who didn't pick himself for the world cup, in full public view where he could potentially destroy the kid's confidence I lost all respect for the man. Yesterday was a prime example of Stevie G vs Alonso, Alonso was by far the more instrumental. When Stevie G is on song he's brilliant but he's very over-rated. If either Gerrad or Lampard were half as good as everyone thinks they are, we would have fared much better at the World Cup.

Two Newspaper qoutes from Stevie G concerning Walcott,
Guardian May 11 2006 "I was surprised to hear the news as much as anyone else but I don't think it's crazy to take Theo Walcott," he insisted. "I think he could be the ace in the pack for us. He's clearly a very exciting player. He's got great speed and he might just surprise a few people because they don't know anything about him. He could pop up with the winning goal for us in an important game because he's such a surprise package and he's clearly got talent
Times, Augsut 13 2006 "(Eriksson) certainly shouldn’t have brought Theo Walcott to Germany. . . I almost fell over when I heard. One day he will mature into a very good player, but he had no right to be in Germany. None at all. I was gobsmacked to find him on the plane"

i believed the hype about gerrard,but it started to change after the liverpool fa cup final, owens final,in that game vieira ran rings around gerrard he even said it was men against boys,but after the world cup,ive decided that gerrard in overated by the media,so is big fat frank

But that's all going forward John, the great midfielders, Keane , Vieira, Cesc, Scholes do a job coming backwards as well, Gerrard does not do that job anymore. The best players perform against the best teams, Gerrard does not do that.

i was exceedingly disappointed to read them too. I'd always had gerrard as a level headed fellow (for a footballer). But to criticise a young kid like that, he went down in my estimations after that.
»»Arsene Knows««

HAHA LD thats right, where did they say that ? i need to find coys and Truth and remind them and let them eat their words, silly buggers.. and great article, gerrard was awful and missing.. rosicky is finally settling and showing his class.

Do you think that Theo deserved to be in Germany? Even when not playing a single minute with Arsenal in the league? Personally I don't know why Sven's picked him, especially with Rooney injured and Owen coming off injury. It left England with only one experienced and fit striker, Crouch, and England suffered because of it. It's not Theo's fault he was picked, it's Sven's.

This is what Gerrard also said about Theo in his book " Now let's get a few things right about Theo. He's a really nice kid and one day he will mature into a very, very good player. Theo's potential was obvious in training, but as the 2006 World Cup dawned, he represented England's future, not the present." " He worked hard every day in training and was a top professional" His point is that Theo wasn't ready for the world cup, he didn't even prove himself at Arsenal at that time, and it was a big surprise to him, and to almost everybody else, even Arsenal fans I bet, when Theo was picked for the England squad.

it was a suprise yes, but that doesnt give him the right to say he nearly fell over when he heard, and yet before the world cup he was apparently all for theo travelling, can you please post up some quotes of steve gerrard slating his own woeful performances at the world cup, i havent got time to read these silly autobiographies players make.

I don't think it was Gerrard's intention to slag Theo, but it kinda came across that way. More importantly it made out as if England failed at the World Cup because Walcott was selected, and considering how poor the performance of the team was in general, that just didn't seem right. Granted, Sven was an idiot for taking Walcott only to leave him rooted to the bench. If he wasn't gonna play Theo, he should've at least included a fifth striker on the squad.

hazzagooner, what did you expect him to say prior to the world cup, that he disagreed with the England manager in picking Theo. Imagine the frenzy such quotes would stir among the tabloids. It would add more pressure to the England team, and they had enough pressure as it is.

Shinobi, "he should've at least included a fifth striker on the squad." That what Gerrard said in his book. England needed more strikers, especially with Rooney and Owen not fit. He blamed Sven, not Theo.

I can only repeat hazzagooner's comment. Would Gerrard not have been better off holding his hands up and saying he played badly? He never does this, its always someone else. Its Sven or its Theo or its because he's playing on the right wing. In short, its always everybody but his fault, look at his reaction in Novemeber when he lost Gallas in the box and he scored, it was his man, everyone could see that, but he turned around and blamed Riise.

Gerrard didnt blame Theo! He blamed Sven for picking Theo! And I don't get why everyone keeps picking up on him in the world cup, he was playing out of position to cover for Lampard who had the highest shot count and lowest shots on target, and despite making up for what is essentially the equivalent of putting the cocky fat kid up front and his mistakes hne still managed to be England's joint top goalscorer! And I cant believe anyone is doubting his Champions League final performance. It's up there with the greatest efforts of any player in any game without a doubt.

Lampard AND Gerrard were crap. They always are at international level. If Gerrard's CL Final performance was so great, why did Didi Hamann come on at half time? And why did Gerrard shirk his penalty taking responsibility and leave it to Xabi Alonso?

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